Old Style Hopi Carved Red Tail Hawk Traditional Guard Kachina Doll (Katsina Doll)

Description

Old Style Hopi Carved Red Tail Hawk Traditional Guard Katsina Doll by Eric Roy

As a general rule the Red Tail Hawk (Palakwayo) appears individually, when it functions more as sergeant-at-arms or policeman. In this role they either enforce an action, such as community cleaning, or act as guards to prevent the approach of anyone or anything to the proximity of a location or ceremony. When the Red Tail Hawk appears with other Guard or Warrior Katsinam in a group they are functioning as warriors. They surround the more sacred Katsinam as a small but ferocious army of fearsome creatures. This is unusual for us, this carving was created for the Bean Dance. Because of this it is more like a contemporary full figure that would be on a base. These carvings are not usually seen available for the trade. We were happy to get this piece from Eric.